Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, June 19: The Congress party on Thursday lashed out at the BJP-led Odisha government, accusing it of failing to curb the alarming surge in crimes against women. Highlighting the recent gangrape incident at Gopalpur beach, Congress leaders said the state has plunged into a “state of darkness” under the current administration.
“This is not the Odisha we once knew. Women were promised safety, but today they are gripped by fear,” said Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous at a press conference in Bhubaneswar. She was joined by All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba and Odisha Mahila Congress chief Meenakshi Bahinipati.
Firdous expressed anguish over reports of three gangrape cases during the ongoing Raja Parba — a festival celebrating womanhood and fertility. “During this sacred occasion, a young woman visiting Gopalpur beach with a friend was allegedly gangraped by 10 men. Girls across Odisha are now asking: when will justice be served?”
Alka Lamba sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of betraying the trust of women voters. “During election rallies, the PM talks about women's safety, but the ground reality is starkly different,” she remarked.
Citing official data, Lamba stated that Odisha reports an average of 15 rape cases daily. “In just 10 months, over 4,500 complaints have been filed by women and girls. In 11 months, more than 28,000 women have been victims of various crimes,” she added. She also highlighted disturbing incidents from Bhadrak and Balasore, including the rape and murder of a minor and the harassment of a nurse. “Shockingly, seven rapes are reported daily from Balasore district alone,” Lamba said.
Odisha Mahila Congress president Meenakshi Bahinipati echoed the outrage, calling the Gopalpur incident a “matter of deep shame” and blaming the BJP government for a worsening law and order situation.
In response, Odisha Mahila Congress members staged a protest, gheraoed the Vidhan Sabha, and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding urgent and concrete action to ensure women’s safety. Several Congress leaders were later suspended from the Assembly following the demonstration.
